Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-10-13
Cultivating Church Harmony.

lt is notable and encouraging sign of
the times that the leading minds in the var
iouS Christian bodies are beginning 10 real
ize that the spirit of Christianity requires
all protesting Christians To work in harmo-
ny instead OF antagonizing each other, aS
has been too much the custom in the past.
y call has been issued for general confer
ence Of all Evangelical Christians Ia be held
/ under the auspices of the National Evangel-
ical Alliance in Washington, December =,
5 and 9. The call is signed hy ciLhty-SiX
| leading eCcleSiaSticS and laymen, including
some of the best known men of the day
! The call itself is a remarkable document
/ Among the important things il recommends
! for consideration by the conference Is the
Importance of closing the widening chaSm
/ between the churches and the multitude :;
the necessity for giving more anne and NJ
tention 10 questions which concern the pub
! lie welfare, and plan by which harmful
/ competition between local churches in the
smaller towns and villages may be prevent
/ ed. The call recognizes the fact that the
country Is now beginning 10 approximate
! European conditions in the existence of
| great cities severe competition, an uuem-
| ployed class and increasing pauperiSm and
| crime. To counterdct the dangers arising
| from these conditions il urges that the con.
| ference devise more effective meaul OF
reaching the masses and provide "a plan of
practical cooperation on the Fart Of al the
| Protestant churches.
| ErThcrc is doubtless room for great impr,,ve-
ment in the matters suggested by me call
1t Is true that IN too many Instances the
cpurcheS are regarded as nlaces for the ~
hgious elifcation of the well-to-do nortion
OF the community. There may be no lust
ground tor tins feeling on the part of the
masses, bht That IL exists cannot be denied
III there Is any real cause for il that cause
should DO removed, and if there is not Ii is
essential that the false impression be over
come. In dealing with humanity il is
necessary 10 allay and remove groundless
preludiceS, rs well rs 10 impart positive
truth, and an essential part of the work of
the religious teacher is the removal of such
preludiceS. Some way can be found of
making the masses feel that Christianity is
adapted TO the poor rs well rs the rich Its
founder did it,and His successors should be
able 10.
That much evil has tsen done and much
labor and money wasted by attempting TO
maintain three q four churches of different
denominations IN localities where ouly one
could be ieIently supported, is patent To ey-
eryhpty. There are hundreds W places in
Tho eoGntry where no religious services are
Inaintisined at all. bnt ip-~1shiriI ffHIri Two
10 half dozen dilapidated and decaying
church editices are to be found. One soci-
ETY. could have proSperod aud been poWeg
Tor good, too many led to.the enforced ahap
donment of al. If the Washington e,.~ =
ence can devise some means of aSo'' .ilt!-
crying evil, il will accomplish ing thls
II II does nothing else great goou
That the churches $.sS,-
tors of good goveFa,.. aid be the conseTVa-
be said. If they .ent does not need TO
teal fealaEo ,nould take up this prac-
good a5/' ,,f moral teaching, however,
Amer 1t result. 1t is true that 'he
in'~ AN people, and especially the moral,
,Iirent nortion of them, are too mucI
,,iyen 10 the accumulation of dollars 10 "e'
vote sufficient time and attention To tneii
duties as citizens Because OF this pohlc:'
rings flourish and political bosses rue
Partisan preaching is simply intoleranle
but if the church members of this couhtr!
could be taught to subordinate their parti
sanship to the public welfare, or, IN othe
words, to place the duties of the citizen a
head of those of the partisan, the Te'gn o
both rings and bosses would be at an enh
The proposed conference has wide neid II
which 10 labor, and if 1t accompllSHes
tithe of the good things marked ont lor IL ]
the call which eonveucs it no other justin
cation will be required for calling II INT
existence-Ph Philadelphia Sunday Times.